Time switches

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a dial and tappet device for a time switch in which the tappets are mounted on the dial and adjustable around the dial into selected positions, means being provided to locate the tappets in their positions to which they are adjusted around the dial.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,872,823 Durdin Mar. 25, 1975 TIME SWITCHES \llilllem ct al. [75] Inventor Rbert Durdin New Malden 315221393 7i1975 sallilf '551511111.......IiIII':00/;1 FB

England [73] Assignee: AMF Incorporated, White Plains, Primary Examiner Richard Queisser Assistant ExaminerDenis E. Corr [22] Filed; Feb. 12, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George W. Price; John H. 21 Appl. No.: 331,633 Gallagher [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT M1 .2, 1972 U 't dK d 9825 72 r m 6 mg Om 1 The mventlon provides a dial and tappet devlce for a [52] U S. CL 6/124 L 6/129 F time switch in which the tappets are mounted on the 5 H L CL I I Gogf 9/00 dial and adjustable around the dial into selected posi- [58] Field DIG tions, means being provided to locate the tappets in 74/16 their positions to which they are adjusted around the ,dial.

56 References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1,848,815 3/1932 Anderson 116/129 34 Q T m /I i I j TIME SWITCHES This invention relates to time switches and more particularly to those having a dial and tappet assembly by which a timed switching sequence is settable. Such switches may be driven by clockwork or by a synchronous electric motor and preferably serve to switch electrical circuits such as those used in domestic boiler appliances and street lighting.

A known time switch includes a dial mounted on a shaft, driven at a speed of one revolution every 24 hours, the dial carrying a plurality of tappets which may be set in desired positions according to the timing sequence required. The tappets actuate switch levers which extend into the rotary path of the tappets. The tappets are carried on radial arms mounted on a central tubular column through which the drive shaft for the dial passes. This has been found disadvantageous since the tubular column has to be sufficiently long to accommodate the thickness of the radial arms.

According to the invention we provide a time switch having a dial, at least one tappet carried at the periphery of the dial, first locating means, second locating means on the tappet cooperable with the first locating means to locate the tappet around the periphery of the dial, cooperating mounting means on the dial and tappet whereby the tappet is carried by the dial, said mounting means being relatively movable such as to allow disengaging movement of the tappet to a position where the tappet can be relocated around the periphery of the dial while remaining carried by the dial.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the dial and tappets partly in sectional view and partly in perspective,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a tappet and a portion of the dial,

FIG. 3 shows a radial section through both the dial and another tappet,

H6. 4 is a part plan view of the periphery of the dial and also a tappet, and

FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the tappets and dial.

In the dial and tappet arrangement shown in FIG. 1 a dial carries a scale disc 11 which is marked around its periphery with indicia representing hours. The dial is formed integrally with a hollow sleeve 12 forming a friction coupling with a further sleeve 13. A friction drive spring 14 closely surrounds both sleeves and tends to tighten around the sleeves when sleeve 13 is driven and to release when the dial 10 and consequently the sleeve 12 is rotated in the direction of rotation for the purpose of adjustment. The sleeve 13 has a gear wheel 15 fixed thereto which meshes with a drive pinion 16 when the dial and tappet assembly is mounted on a dial stud 17.

The assembly is located by a collar 18 fixed to the stud. The collar is engaged by one end of a tube 19 closely fitting the stud and carrying the sleeves l3, 12 which are held between a circlip 20 at one end of the tube 19 and a washer 21 secured by a retaining clip 22 locating in a groove in the end of the dial stud l7.

Tappets 23 are carried at the periphery of the dial 10 which is formed over its entire edge with a series of recesses 25 in castellated manner. These recesses serve to locate the tappets in their selected positions against rotational movement above the axis of the dial stud.

. latter is provided (as seen more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3) with a'double flange'arrangement on the rear the recesses 25 and spaced from a lower flange 27 in order to accommodate a radially extending locating arm 28 therebetween, the arm 28 being an integral part of the tappet. The flange 27 is provided on its front face with two coaxial annular grooves 29, 30 into either of which a projection in the form of a part annular rib 31 can fit.

The tappet 23 which is preferably a plastic moulding has a body portion 32 surmounted by a pointer 33 located on the front of the dial and between which the locating arm extending from the body portion, there is formed a radially inwardly extending vertical rib or neck 34 engageable in any selected one of the recesses A further locating arm 35 extends from said body portion 32 radially to a greater extent than the arm 28. The arm 35 has a part annular rib 36, at its distal end which is disposed within an annular recess 37 provided in the opposite face of the flange 27, to that having the annular grooves 29, 30. The recess 37 has a larger radial dimension than that of the rib 36 so that on adjustment of the tappet when the latter is pulled out the rib 36 leaves the radially innermost cylindrical locating face 38 of the recess 37 and abuts or comes into close proximity with the radially outermost cylindrical face 39 of the recess 37.

In this position of the tappet (as shown in FIG. 3) the rib 31 engages the groove 30 and since the rib 34 is out of engagement with the recess 25 the tappet can be slid around the dial periphery to a new position. Movement of the tappet radially inwardly of the dial causes the rib 34 to engage another recess 25 while at the same time the rib 31 rides up out of the groove 30 onto the flat surface between the grooves 29, 30 and down into the groove 29. During this radial movement the arm 28 flexes, there being sufficient space between the two flanges 26 and 27 to allow this.

The tappets are conveniently one-piece mouldings and to facilitate the moulding operation an aperture 43 is preferably left in the longer locating arm 35. A projection extends from the body portion 32 and serves to actuate cam mechanism controlling opening and closing of contacts in the time switch. The projection may be of a suitable length and positioned according to the contacts to be actuated, eg on or of contacts.

lt is possible to mould the dial 10 in one piece with the flanges 26 and 27. However, for simplification of the moulding process it is preferred not to mould the flange 27 onto the dial, but to fit this as a separate component. Either plastics material or metal may be used. The dial is provided with a cylindrical surface 41 on one side thereof concentric with the dial periphery. Adjacent the surface 41 are a number of pins 42 having their axis parallel to the axes of the dial stud 17. These pins serve to secure the flange 27 onto the dial.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for selecting a time for operation of a time switch comprising a disc shaped dial adapted to be rotated by timing means, an annular flange at the periphery of said dial,

said flange having a series of recesses therein corresponding to selectable time intervals,

at least one tappet carried at the periphery of said dial and selectably rotatable thereabout,

engagement means on said tappet for selectively engaging a recess on the periphery of said flange,

a rib on said tappet spaced radially inwardly of the periphery of said dial,

means associated with said dial and engageable with said rib for restricting radial movement of the tappet between first and second radial positions on the dial and permitting substantially free movement of the tappet around the dial when the tappet is in one of its two restricted radial positions.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein the last claimed means includes a second flange on the periphery of said dial spaced from said first flange in a direciton normal to a radius of the dial,

said last claimed means further including a pair of radially spaced annular grooves on one face of said second flange,

an arm on said tappet extending radially inwardly over one surface of said second flange,

projection means on said arm selectively engageable with said annular grooves for establishing. selectable radial positions for said tapped on said dial.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2 and wherein said last claimed means further includes a second arm on said tappet extending radially inwardly over the opposite surface of said second flange,

a rib on said second arm,

an annular recess in said opposite face of said second flange for receiving said rib,

said two arms with their respective projection means and ribs and said annular grooves and annular recess being constructed and arranged to retain said tappet on the periphery of the dial and permitting movement of the tappet about the dial when the projection means is in engagement with the annular groove of greater radius.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein said annular recess and said rib are constructed and arranged to permit radial movement of said tappet on said dial between said first and second radial positions.

5. Apparatus for selecting a time for-operation of a time switch comprising a disc shaped dial adapted to be rotated by timing means,

first and second spaced annular flanges disposed at the periphery of said dial,

said flanges being spaced in a direction normal to a radius of said dial,

said flanges being spaced in a direction normal to a radius of said dial,

one of said flanges having a series of recesses therein corresponding to selectable time intervals,

the other of said flanges having on one face thereof two radially spaced annular grooves and on the other face thereof an annular recess,

at least one tappet carried at the periphery of said dial and selectably rotatable thereabout,

said tappet including first and second arms that extend radially inwardly over, respectively, said one and other faces of said second flange,

the first arm of the tappet being flexible and having a projection for selective engagement with the annular grooves on the one face of said other flange,

the second arm of the tappet having a rib for engagement in the recess on the other face of said other flange,

said rib and recess being proportioned to permit radial movement of the tappet to permit the projection on the first arm to selectively engage said two annular grooves,

engagement means on said tappet for selectively engaging a recess on the periphery of said one flange when said projection on the first arm is in engagement with the innermost one of the annular grooves on said one face of the other flange, and

switch operating means on said tappet for producing a switch operation when said tappet is at a prede- 

1. Apparatus for selecting a time for operation of a time switch comprising a disc shaped dial adapted to be rotated by timing means, an annular flange at the periphery of said dial, said flange having a series of recesses therein corresponding to selectable time intervals, at least one tappet carried at the periphery of said dial and selectably rotatable thereabout, engagement means on said tappet for selectively engaging a recess on the periphery of said flange, a rib on said tappet spaced radially inwardly of the periphery of said dial, means associated with said dial and engageable with said rib for restricting radial movement of the tappet between first and second radial positions on tHe dial and permitting substantially free movement of the tappet around the dial when the tappet is in one of its two restricted radial positions.
 2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein the last claimed means includes a second flange on the periphery of said dial spaced from said first flange in a direciton normal to a radius of the dial, said last claimed means further including a pair of radially spaced annular grooves on one face of said second flange, an arm on said tappet extending radially inwardly over one surface of said second flange, projection means on said arm selectively engageable with said annular grooves for establishing selectable radial positions for said tapped on said dial.
 3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2 and wherein said last claimed means further includes a second arm on said tappet extending radially inwardly over the opposite surface of said second flange, a rib on said second arm, an annular recess in said opposite face of said second flange for receiving said rib, said two arms with their respective projection means and ribs and said annular grooves and annular recess being constructed and arranged to retain said tappet on the periphery of the dial and permitting movement of the tappet about the dial when the projection means is in engagement with the annular groove of greater radius.
 4. The apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein said annular recess and said rib are constructed and arranged to permit radial movement of said tappet on said dial between said first and second radial positions.
 5. Apparatus for selecting a time for operation of a time switch comprising a disc shaped dial adapted to be rotated by timing means, first and second spaced annular flanges disposed at the periphery of said dial, said flanges being spaced in a direction normal to a radius of said dial, said flanges being spaced in a direction normal to a radius of said dial, one of said flanges having a series of recesses therein corresponding to selectable time intervals, the other of said flanges having on one face thereof two radially spaced annular grooves and on the other face thereof an annular recess, at least one tappet carried at the periphery of said dial and selectably rotatable thereabout, said tappet including first and second arms that extend radially inwardly over, respectively, said one and other faces of said second flange, the first arm of the tappet being flexible and having a projection for selective engagement with the annular grooves on the one face of said other flange, the second arm of the tappet having a rib for engagement in the recess on the other face of said other flange, said rib and recess being proportioned to permit radial movement of the tappet to permit the projection on the first arm to selectively engage said two annular grooves, engagement means on said tappet for selectively engaging a recess on the periphery of said one flange when said projection on the first arm is in engagement with the innermost one of the annular grooves on said one face of the other flange, and switch operating means on said tappet for producing a switch operation when said tappet is at a predetermined position. 